Shelter Stories
Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento and Northern Nevada - Residential Family Center
Tikia Artis’ roommate suddenly up and left their shared apartment of eight months, Artis soon fell behind on her bills. With no new roommate to help defray expenses, she couldn’t make the rent and was given an eviction notice. “I just didn’t have the money,” says Artis, whose mother, her only local relative, recently moved back to their native Virginia. “It was pretty scary, I was afraid that my son and I were going to end up living on the streets.” A referring agency put her in touch with Volunteers of America, and she and her son, 6-year-old Jeremiah, found sanctuary in the Residential Family Center the same day. “It was a huge relief,” she says. While Volunteers of America’ s focus is on homeless prevention and rapid re-housing, short-term, emergency shelters are still necessary for those who suddenly find themselves in need of immediate housing, and it’s the generosity of community supporters that make these possible. Figures cited in the 2008 Sacramento County Children’s Report Card, suggest more than 6,200 children experience homelessness annually in Sacramento County. The Volunteers of America Residential Family Center, which was dedicated Feb. 23 as part of an open-house event with renovation partners HomeAid Sacramento and Standard Pacific Homes, is there to provide that safety net for parents and their children. Thankfully, thanks to community support, the center is able to provide food and shelter, as well as such essential services as transportation to and from school for the children staying there, and job and housing referrals that will help their parents establish permanent housing and leave the shelter system behind. It’s a worrisome situation for anyone, but homelessness is especially disconcerting for children. Artis says she tries to keep the realities of their situation as far away from her son as possible. “He still doesn’t understand what’s going on,” she says. “Your loving staff, volunteers and donors have made a big difference to us. I can’t believe how caring people can be.”
Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento and Northern Nevada - Sacramento Senior Safe House
Emma was a former guest of Sacramento Senior Safe House
“My mother taught me how to be compassionate and caring for people in need,” says 70-year-old Emma, taking her seat in the colorful and well-kept backyard. She acknowledges our compliment about her recent salon visit with a half apology. “Thank you – even though it’s too short.” Like her mother, who she describes as “a caregiver for anyone and everyone who needed help,” Emma grew up – in Oklahoma and Northern California – putting others’ needs and wants ahead of her own. It was an upbringing she calls a “blessing,” but she often wonders aloud if her life in support of an alcoholic husband with severe post-traumatic stress syndrome came at too high a price – for herself and her four children. She and her husband, a minister, traveled frequently. Devoted to spreading the Gospel, they would return home only long enough to earn money for more cross-country trips – kids in tow. She wonders today if that was the right choice for her children, but she was committed to their mission and to her husband, which became increasingly difficult due to his violent night terrors, drinking and growing abusive behavior. With few funds to sustain them beyond Social Security, a call from a daughter in financial need added further pressure on Emma and her husband, who came to live with them. But she found herself being treated as the child and threats of conservatorship were frequently voiced.“It was easier to go with the flow and not voice my opinions so much,” Emma said. “Aging is a hard thing to accept – for both seniors and their children. But I had a right to be who I was as an elderly person.” When APS intervened, Emma considered living on the streets – she felt it was her only option in remaining independent. When she learned of Volunteers of America’s Sacramento Senior Safe House she found the option she was hoping for. “This place here, this safe house, was a godsend to me,’ Emma recalls. “I was scared to death, but had the assurance that I would be safe here. It’s been a blessing to me.” Within a month, Volunteers of America was able to place Emma at one of its affordable-living senior residences where she comfortably lives today.
You too can help support HomeAid Sacramento's Shelter Development Program by donating today.
Tikia Artis’ roommate suddenly up and left their shared apartment of eight months, Artis soon fell behind on her bills. With no new roommate to help defray expenses, she couldn’t make the rent and was given an eviction notice. “I just didn’t have the money,” says Artis, whose mother, her only local relative, recently moved back to their native Virginia. “It was pretty scary, I was afraid that my son and I were going to end up living on the streets.” A referring agency put her in touch with Volunteers of America, and she and her son, 6-year-old Jeremiah, found sanctuary in the Residential Family Center the same day. “It was a huge relief,” she says. While Volunteers of America’ s focus is on homeless prevention and rapid re-housing, short-term, emergency shelters are still necessary for those who suddenly find themselves in need of immediate housing, and it’s the generosity of community supporters that make these possible. Figures cited in the 2008 Sacramento County Children’s Report Card, suggest more than 6,200 children experience homelessness annually in Sacramento County. The Volunteers of America Residential Family Center, which was dedicated Feb. 23 as part of an open-house event with renovation partners HomeAid Sacramento and Standard Pacific Homes, is there to provide that safety net for parents and their children. Thankfully, thanks to community support, the center is able to provide food and shelter, as well as such essential services as transportation to and from school for the children staying there, and job and housing referrals that will help their parents establish permanent housing and leave the shelter system behind. It’s a worrisome situation for anyone, but homelessness is especially disconcerting for children. Artis says she tries to keep the realities of their situation as far away from her son as possible. “He still doesn’t understand what’s going on,” she says. “Your loving staff, volunteers and donors have made a big difference to us. I can’t believe how caring people can be.”
Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento and Northern Nevada - Sacramento Senior Safe House
Emma was a former guest of Sacramento Senior Safe House
“My mother taught me how to be compassionate and caring for people in need,” says 70-year-old Emma, taking her seat in the colorful and well-kept backyard. She acknowledges our compliment about her recent salon visit with a half apology. “Thank you – even though it’s too short.” Like her mother, who she describes as “a caregiver for anyone and everyone who needed help,” Emma grew up – in Oklahoma and Northern California – putting others’ needs and wants ahead of her own. It was an upbringing she calls a “blessing,” but she often wonders aloud if her life in support of an alcoholic husband with severe post-traumatic stress syndrome came at too high a price – for herself and her four children. She and her husband, a minister, traveled frequently. Devoted to spreading the Gospel, they would return home only long enough to earn money for more cross-country trips – kids in tow. She wonders today if that was the right choice for her children, but she was committed to their mission and to her husband, which became increasingly difficult due to his violent night terrors, drinking and growing abusive behavior. With few funds to sustain them beyond Social Security, a call from a daughter in financial need added further pressure on Emma and her husband, who came to live with them. But she found herself being treated as the child and threats of conservatorship were frequently voiced.“It was easier to go with the flow and not voice my opinions so much,” Emma said. “Aging is a hard thing to accept – for both seniors and their children. But I had a right to be who I was as an elderly person.” When APS intervened, Emma considered living on the streets – she felt it was her only option in remaining independent. When she learned of Volunteers of America’s Sacramento Senior Safe House she found the option she was hoping for. “This place here, this safe house, was a godsend to me,’ Emma recalls. “I was scared to death, but had the assurance that I would be safe here. It’s been a blessing to me.” Within a month, Volunteers of America was able to place Emma at one of its affordable-living senior residences where she comfortably lives today.
You too can help support HomeAid Sacramento's Shelter Development Program by donating today.
HomeAid's Mission is to build and maintain dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives.
Site design, hosting and marketing donated by Barcellona, Inc.
Web site development by SHiNYMACHiNE
Copyright © 2010 HomeAid Sacramento, All rights reserved.